Jacksonville carjacking suspects nabbed in St. Johns County

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - A carjacking in Duval County led to a brief chase and two arrests in St. Johns County early Wednesday morning.

Two Pennsylvania men are in custody following an alleged carjacking in Duval County, according to a press release from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

The suspects, 25-year-old Matthew Lofton and 26-year-old Cory Bellamy, both of Philadelphia, were spotted by St. Johns County Sheriff's Office deputies just before 4:00 a.m. on I-95. The suspects were pursued off the Interstate and onto S.R. 16, the release detailed.

Deputies in pursuit of the suspects conducted a pit maneuver, which is when a deputy taps the rear bumper of the suspect's vehicle forcing the suspect's vehicle to turn sideways, according to the SJSCO release. The suspects came to a stop at Toms Road and allegedly refused to get out of their locked vehicle, the release states. Deputies broke a window and removed Lofton and Bellamy from the vehicle.

JSO officersarrived at the scene with the allegedvictims who allegedly identified the suspects as the carjackers they encountered earlier.

Lofton was charged with fleeing and eluding police, aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and robbery. Heis facing a $125,000 bond. Bellamy was charged with robbery and is being held on an outstanding warrant out of New Jersey for aggravated arson and is facing a bond of $75,000. Both Lofton and Bellamy were also charged with carjacking out of Duval County.